Classic & Non-Traditional Thanksgiving Food Ideas

Here are some Thanksgiving Food Ideas to serve your family this special holiday.

Images of classic and non-traditional Christmas and Thanksgiving food ideas like roasted turkey, glazed ham, ribeye roast and Alaskan King crabs.

Thanksgiving is a few days away and if you haven't decided yet what to make, here are some classic and non traditional Thanksgiving food ideas to consider.

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Traditional thanksgiving food ideas

Whole turkey

Roasted Turkey with Lemon Parsley & Garlic with lemon wedges on a platter sitting on a bed of kale. Surrounding platter are pomegranate, apple and turkey sauce. — Roasted Turkey with Lemon Parsley & Garlic is a scrumptious dinner for the holidays.

Fried or Roasted Turkey is a traditional Thanksgiving dinner served with many side dishes. Consider getting a smaller turkey this year if you have a small household.

If you don't mine leftover turkey then get the big one and make different dishes everyday. Don't throw the turkey carcass and make turkey stock. You can use it for soup or other dishes.

Try this scrumptious Roasted Turkey with Lemon Parsley & Garlic made popular by Gordon Ramsay. Butter is spread over and under turkey skin making it crisp on the outside and juicy, moist and flavorful in the inside.

Turkey pot pie

Here's another classic Thanksgiving dinner that your family will love. If you are a household of 2 people, this would be great to serve. Buy turkey breast and you can have this delicious turkey pot pie in no time.

Another great thing about this turkey pot pie recipe, you can buy pre-made crust.

If you are planning to cook a whole turkey, leftover turkey would be great with this turkey pie.

Try this delicious Turkey Pot Pie. It is easy with creamy turkey and vegetable filling.

Turkey gumbo

Skip the whole bird and make Turkey Gumbo. Get some turkey breast or legs and make this flavorful stew. But if you are having the whole bird, leftover turkey would be great with this stew.

Cook it on stove-top and make the traditional roux and simmer turkey and holy trinity for 3 hours. Otherwise, if you want something quick and easy and who doesn't mind a different way of making it - cook it in your instant pot.

Turkey legs can tenderize quicker in an instant pot.

If not a big fan of turkey, you can use chicken.

Try this Turkey Gumbo Instant Pot or cook it on stove top.

Traditional ham recipes

Ham and Turkey are both popular dishes to serve during the holidays.

Some of us don't care for turkey. If it is on the table, we might eat it but if we have a choice we would rather have ham.

You can make ham from scratch, that would be my mom but if you like it quick and easy, that would be me, a pre-cooked ham is abundant at this time.

Get yourself a spiral sliced ham or carved ham. Some ham comes with glaze and some don't.

Spiral sliced ham

This fully cooked ham is delicious if glazed and warmed properly. If you like the glaze that came with it then all you have to do is spread it all over. You can also add some ingredients to the glaze to improve it or you can make your own.

In fact, some people don't even do the warming instruction stated on the label. They leave it in room temperature to thaw and serve it without glaze. That's easy.

Cover ham with foil and if you like add water in the pan to keep it moist.

Try this Spiral Sliced Ham.

Carve ham with pineapple brown sugar glaze

Sliced pineapple carver ham on a platter with a serving fork.

If you like a boneless ham that is easy to carve then get this ham. It is also less fatty and economical for a smaller household.

Again, if you don't like leftover, this is one to get. Some carve ham don't come with glaze. My Pineapple Brown Sugar Glaze complement this ham. This glaze adds so much flavor to carve ham, so don't skip it.

It is a smaller ham so it doesn't take long to warm it.

Try this Moist, Juicy, Tender Carve Ham with Pineapple Brown Sugar Glaze.

Apricot glazed carve ham with rosemary and brown sugar

Apricot carve ham with rosemary and brown sugar glaze with a sprig of rosemary on a platter. A sauce on the side and some decorative flowers.

Pineapple seems to be the most popular glaze used in ham. If you haven't tried apricot preserved with rosemary and brown sugar, it makes a really good ham glaze.

Try this simple, easy delicious carve ham recipe, Apricot Glazed Carve Ham with Rosemary and Brown Sugar.

Ribeye roast or prime rib

Some people think it is complicated to cook ribeye roast or prime rib. A thermometer is your best friend when cooking ribeye roast.

Make sure to fully thaw ribeye roast or prime rib before cooking. A 6 to 7 pounds frozen roast takes about 2 days to thaw in the fridge.

How to slow cook a ribeye roast in the oven

Slow cooking a ribeye roast in low temperature yields a moist, juicy and tender steak or roast if cooked properly. Use a thermometer.

This is a simple ribeye roast recipe seasoned with salt and pepper. Prepare your favorite sauce to pair with this delicious steak roast. Bearnaise and mushroom sauce is great with this roast.

Check out How to Slow Cook a Ribeye Roast in the Oven.

Ribeye roast with lemon-pepper and rosemary

A standing bone-in medium rib eye roast on a platter with some kale on a platter. — Standing Bone-in Rib Eye Roast Recipe

Lemon-Pepper and rosemary is a flavorful seasoning for ribeye roast. Again, use a thermometer. When buying a ribeye roast it is best to get it with the bones. It is easier to cook and it keeps your meat moist.

You can request the butcher to detach the bone and tie it with a kitchen twine. When roasting all you need a dripping pan. Roast it standing with a dripping pan underneath.

Check out the recipe, Standing Bone-in Rib Eye Roast Recipe.

Grilled prime rib roast

Grilling prime rib roast and other meat.

If weather permits, try this delicious marinated grilled prime rib roast. Marinate overnight in the fridge to fully penetrate the meat. Otherwise, roast it in the oven. Follow my instructions on How to Slow Cook a Ribeye Roast in the Oven.

Don't grill prime rib under direct heat. It takes longer but meat will be moist, juicy and tender. Don't forget to use a thermometer.

You will enjoy this smoky Grilled Prime Rib Roast.

More meat thanksgiving food ideas

Tenderloin wrapped in bacon stuffed with spinach and feta

Try this easy and delicious crispy Bacon Wrapped Pork Tenderloin with Creamy Spinach and Cheese Filling.

Something different that you can serve your family than the typical turkey and ham. Make sure not to add too much cheese, it can get too rich.

Corned beef and cabbage, potatoes and carrots

Corned beef in a pyrex garnished cabbage, carrots, and potatoes; and a basket of flower on the side.

How can you say "No" to corned beef. This is also easy to make. When you buy this meat, it is packaged with spices. You can add more spices but the prepackaged spices are enough to flavor this delicious corned beef.

Serve Corned Beef with Cabbage, Potatoes and Carrots this Holiday.

Seafood to Consider this Thanksgiving

Since this is an unusual year, some might not do the traditional turkey, ham or roast. Consider serving some seafood for a change.

People are open to try something different this year.

How to steam a frozen cooked alaskan king crab legs

Three cooked Alaskan king crab legs on a tray with wire rack. — Use a huge tray to steam Jumbo or Colossal crab legs.

When buying jumbo or colossal crab legs steaming would be very hard unless if you have a very big steamer. You can break each part but I don't like serving it that way.

Here's an easy way to thaw and Steam King Crab Legs.

How to Steam Lobster

Two huge lobsters with lemon in a steamer. — Lobster turns bright red when cooked.

If you think it is daunting to steam whole lobster, it's not. We prefer whole lobster than just lobster tail.

No steamer, then use a big pot and place a safe glass bowl in the middle and put lobster above it not immersed in water. Cover pot and simmer. Check out the spices we add to water.

Learn How to Steam Lobster

Seafood creole gumbo

A seafood gumbo with crabs, lobster tail, shrimp, and vegetable in platter. Table setting with napkin, a bowl and some pink flowers.

This Louisiana Seafood Gumbo is a delectable creole seafood dish made with Dungeness crab, lobster, shrimp, andouille sausage, a mixture of vegetables called Holy Trinity in a flavorful roux seasoned with herbs and spices.

A delightful stew that pairs well with rice.

Try this Louisiana Seafood Gumbo this holiday.